Spring cap for car trucks



Oct. 10, 1939a E, w WEBB 2,175,331

' SPRING CAP FOR CAR TRUCKS Filed Jan. 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmf Oct. 10,1939. E w WEBB v 2,175,331

SPRING CAP FOR CAR TRUCKS Filed Jan. 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N VE N TOR. fw/N W. WE. f//j /77'70/7/9/52/5.

@www y Patented oct. 10, 193e UNITED STATES SPRING CAP FOR CAR TRUCKS Edwin W. Webb, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Standard Car Truck Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 27, 1938, Serial No. 187,184

4 Claims.

This invention relates to car trucks and in particular relates to lower spring cap plates for car trucks.

1n various types of stabilized car trucks, such o for example, as those shown in my Edwin W. Webb Patent No. 1,894,386 issued January 17, 1933, entitled Spring damping truck, in my Edwin W. Webb application for patent Serial Number 67,513 led March '7, 1935, entitled l Quick wheel change truck, in my Edwin W. Webb application for patent Serial Number 102,937 filed September 28, 1936, entitled Stabilizing device for car trucks, which has matured into United States Patent No. 2,142,426 granted il?! January 3, 1939, in my Edwin W. Webb application for patent Serial Number 161,244 led August 27, 1937, entitled Stabilized truck, and in my Edwin W. Webb application for patent Serial Number 165,289 filed September 23, 1937,

entitled Stabilized truck and bolster therefor, stabilizing wedges are interposed between the sides of the end portions of the truck bolster of a car truck and the adjacent bolster columns of the side frames. The ends of the bolster are sup- 25 ported from the side frames chieiiy by ordinary bolster springs and the stabilizing wedges are supported from the side frames by lighter stabilizing springs located transversely of each side frame approximately midway between inner and outer bolster springs. The spring pressed stabilizing wedges acting between the bolster and the bolster columns exert slight resistance to free up and down movement of the bolster relative tothe side frames and thus prevent cumulative periodic action of the bolster springs at certain speeds of the truck as the wheels pass over rail joints, thus stabilizing the truck and preventing bouncing action.

1n certain trucks side frames are employed known in the trade as double truss side frames. Such side frames have a bolster opening therein and the tension member of the side frame forms a spring seat at the bottom of the bolster open ing between the bolster columns which define the sides of the opening. The tension member which forms the main truss cti the side frame is itself trussed transversely by channeled portions or truss portions, the lower parts of which project diagonally into the bolster opening above the spring seat from the bolster columns to present triangular portions, as viewed in side elevation, located at the ends of the spring seat and projecting upwardly therefrom.

When such double truss side frames are emplcyed in connection with stabilized trucks, such as above referred to, diiculty is experienced in seating and centering the lower ends of the bolster springs and stabilizing springs.

It is the general object of this invention, therefore, to provide novel and improved lower spring 5 caps for use in stabilized trucks employing side frames of the double truss side frame type.

The objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accom- 10 panying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the various views, and, in which:

Fig. l is a view chiey in side elevation of portions of a car truck embodying the invention, 15 some of the parts being broken away and shown in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lower spring cap shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View in end elevation of the same 20 spring cap;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of spring cap;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of the spring cap shown 25 in Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a View in end elevation of the spring cap shown in Fig. 4.

Portions of a stabilized car truck employing a double truss side frame are shown. The side 30 frame includes a tension member 1, the medial part of which is ilanged to form a spring seat 8 at the lower part of a bolster opening 9, the sides of which opening are dei-ined by bolster j columns i9 projecting upwardlyV from the tension 35 member '1. The tension member 'I is channeled at its upper side toform trusses I i which greatly strengthen the tension member transversely of the same. These trusses iI project into the bolster opening 9 from above the spring seat 8 40 to form truss portions I2 above the spring seat 8 at the two ends of the same in the bolster opening. These truss portions I2 are of triangular shape in side elevation, as shown in Fig.

1, and they are of course oi inverted V-shape or 45 U-shape in transverse cross section. They eX- tend diagonally upwardly from their juncture with the spring seat 8 to join the columns I9.

The stabilized truck as shown includes a truck bolster I3 having pockets I l at the sides of its 50 end portions to receive stabilizing wedges I5 within these pockets between inclined walls I6 of the pockets and the bolster columns I0. The particular bolster I3 and stabilizing wedges I5 illustrated are of very similar construction to 55 those shown in my above identied application for patent Serial Number 165,289 filed September 23, 1937, above identified. The bolster I3 is supported for the most part by a group of bolster springs El of standard construction, only one of these springs being illustrated. The stabilizing wedges l5 are supported on stabilizing springs I8 which are much lighter than the bolster springs I'I. To accommodate the stabilizing springs i8, the outer pair of bolster springs I'l are spaced from the inner pair of bolster springs to a greater extent than is usual in a non-stabilized truck. In Fig. l of the drawings, the bolster springs l? and the stabilizing springs I8 are shown as be-ing supported from the spring seat 8 on a spring cap designated as an entirety by the letter A, which spring cap rests on the spring seat 8. The spring cap A is further illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. In place of the spring cap A, a spring cap B could be employed, the spring cap B being shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

Referring first to the spring cap A shown in Figs. l, 2 and this spring cap includes a lower plate I9 formed preferably of pressed steel and making up the major portion of the cap. The plate i9 rests flat against the spring seat 8 and is notched at the transverse central part of its ends at 2i! to receive the triangular truss portions I2 and t around the same. Openings 2| may be provided through the plate I9 located at the four corners of a rectangle and preferably the corners of the plate i9 are rounded and the inner and outer edges of the plate are notched at 22. Upturned anges 23 are preferably provided at the four rounded corners of the plate I9 to assist in forming spring centers for the four bolster springs i7.

The spring cap A also includes a second plate 24 preferably formed of cast or forged steel. This pla-te 24 forms the minor portions of the cap. The plate 24 extends from end to end of the plate i9 and it is equipped with a central portion taken longitudinally of the plate 24 which lies flat against the plate I9 and is secured as by rivets 25 to the plate I9. These rivets are preferably round headed and the lower heads of these rivets are received within small cup-shaped recesses 5a formed in the spring seat 8. The rivets therefore cooperating with the recesses 8a serve to prevent shifting movement of the spring cap A on the spring seat 8. The end portions of the plate 24 are stepped or cupped upwardly to form the steps 26 which are raised well above the plate I9. The ends of the steps 26 are cut away to permit reception of the triangular truss portions I2 below the steps 25. Also the under part of the end edges of the steps 25 are preferably beveled at 2'I to properly fit with the truss portions I2. The steps 25 may be provided with openings 28 therethrough and they are preferably bossed upwardly around these openings to form centers 29 for the stabilizing springs I8. Concentric with the centers 29, upwardly extending arcuate iianges 38 are formed on the upper surfaces of the steps 25 which cooperate with the centers 29 and inner upturned ribs 3| to additionally center and retain the stabilizing springs I8 in place. Opposite the flanges 23 the plate 2d is flanged to form continuations of the lateral walls of the cups 26 and cooperate therewith to form arcuate ribs 32 which serve with the flanges 23 to locate, retain and center the lower ends of the bolster springs Il. To lighten the plate 24, an

oval-shaped opening 33 may be provided in the center of this plate.

When in applied position the lower ends of the bolster springs I'I will, of course, bear against the plate I9 being properly centered and held in place by the ribs 32 and anges 23. The lower ends of the stabilizing springs I8 will bear against the upper surfaces of the steps 25 of plate 24 being centered and retained in position by bosses 29, iianges 30 and ribs 3l. The triangular truss portions I2 of the tension member 'I will be properly accommodated Within the notches 28 below the steps 26 which bridge the truss portions, and of course these truss portions I2 Will assist with the rivets 25 in preventing shifting movement of the cap A on the spring seat 8 of the side frame.

The spring cap B shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 may be formed of pressed steel or cast steel, all parts being integral. It is somewhat diiiicult to produce the cap B in pressed steel and for this reason the two part cap A may be preferable to the cap B,

The cap B consists of a plate having a major portion 34 which rests directly on the spring seat 8, two downwardly projecting lugs 35 being provided on the under surface of the major portion 34 to fit within the recesses 8a of the spring seat 8 of the side frame and thereby retain the spring cap B in place without shifting movement. At the four corners of a rectangle, openings 3S are made in the major portion 34 and bosses extend upwardly from the openings 35 to form spring centers 3l for the lower ends of the bolster springs I'l. To strengthen the major portion 34 of the plate a central opening 38 is provided and the material is bossed upwardly at 39 around this opening. The end portions of the spring cap B at the transverse central parts thereof are stepped or cupped upwardly to form the steps 40 which produce the minor portions of the spring cap B. The triangular truss portions I2 of the tension member 'I of the side frame are of course received below the steps l0 in much the same manner as in the cap A. The steps 48 have central openings 4l therein and they are bossed upwardly about the openings 4I to form spring centers 42 for the lower ends of the stabilizing springs I8. The inner edge portions of the steps 40 are arcuately cut away at 43 so as not to interfere with the bolster springs Il.

It will be seen that extremely simple and efficient lower spring caps have been provided for accommodating the bolster springs and stabilizing springs of a stabilized car truck wherein double truss side frames are employed.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departure from the scope of the present invention, which generally stated consists in the matter shown, and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l; A lower spring cap for stabilized car trucks having double truss side frames, comprising a main plate of fiat construction notched at the transverse central portions of its ends to receive truss portions of the tension member of a double truss side frame while resting on the spring seat thereof, and a second plate attached to said main plate and forming recessed steps above the notches of said main plate, means for centering bolster springs on said main plate and means for centering stabilizing springs on said steps.

2. 'I'he structure defined in claim l, and attaohing members securing said two plates together, said attaching members having portions projecting below said main plate to cooperate in holding said cap in position on a spring seat.

3. In a. car truck, a side frame having a lateral bolster opening and forming a spring seat at the bottom of the bolster opening, forming bolster columns at Ythe sides of the opening and bridging said truss portions, heavy bolster springs extending between said bolster andsaid main at portion of the spring cap and lighter stabilizing springs extending between said stabilizing wedges and said minor stepped up portions of said spring cap.

4. A lower spring cap for stabilized car trucks having double truss side frames, comprising a main plate of ilat construction flanged at portions of its outer edge and notched at the transverse central portions of its ends to receive truss portions of the tension member of a double truss side frame while resting on the spring seat thereof, and a second plate attached to said main plate and forming recessed steps above the notches of said main plate, means for centering bolster springs on said main plate and means for centering stabilizing springs on said steps.

EDWIN W. WEBB. 

